Michael Spogli, TIAA’s financial consultant, will be on campus to meet with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Thursday, January 24, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416 and on Friday, January 25, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 205.

Start the year off right by reviewing your personal financial situation and making sure you are saving enough for retirement. Ensure that your investments are properly allocated and that you are on track to meet your retirement goals. It’s too important to delay; schedule an appointment today. It's easy. Simply visit the TIAA website or call (800) 732-8353 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Early Childhood Music and Movement program will hold free demonstration classes for children from birth through age 5 on Saturday, January 26. To register, please visit the Music Department website. The 10-week spring session begins Saturday, February 2.

Register for the upcoming workshops for Blackboard Learn through the Workshop Registration System.

If you have questions about using Blackboard, please contact Open SUNY Support at (844) 673-6786 or submit a request online with the Open SUNY HelpDesk.

You can also use the following self-service options:

• IT Portal: Blackboard FAQ Knowledge Base
• Blackboard Help for Instructors: Answers to common issues and ways to customize your course

Student Accessibility Services thanks the students who served as peer note-takers during the fall 2018 semester. Peer note-takers are volunteers who have met standards of quality and excellence to assist us with ensuring equal access to education for students who receive the note-taking accommodation.

Peer note-taker duties extend beyond simply making a copy of their notes. Note-takers make sure that their notes are tailored to suit the needs of the student(s) they support. This is not an easy task, for some of our students have very specific needs. Taking notes can involve rephrasing content, typing notes in a specific font, enlarging notes to a specific size, or meeting with the student receiving the notes to ensure that all notes are up to quality and accessibility standards.

The following students, listed with their majors, have displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and care in making sure that the students they were supporting had the opportunity to succeed. Please join us in thanking them for helping us keep Buffalo State College a civil and caring academic community.

Qamar Abdikamir, Computer Information Systems
Regan Baney, Sociology
Donna Bishun, Business Administration
Aaron Bobeck, Business Administration
Selena Collins, Social Work
Natatyana Conner, Media Production and World Languages
Emanie Farris, Undeclared
Jennifer Giblin, Computer Information Systems
Alicia Gordon, Undeclared
Carly Hynd, Speech-Language Pathology
Jaida Julien, Criminal Justice
Hannah Kalmeyer, Psychology
Grace Krizen, Dietetics
Kassandra Kulis, Criminal Justice
Jade LaRock, Biology
Marisa Marinelli, Philosophy
Jordan McKenna, Spanish
Meagan Meller, Childhood Education
Mackenzie Myott, Computer Information Systems
Julie Pacer, Art
Sara Philips, Writing
Lydia Pierce, English
Racquel Pryce, Fashion and Textile Technology
Isabella Quattrone, Individualized Studies
Juliana Quebral, Graphic Design
Iasiah Rios, Undeclared
Celisse Rivera, Biology
Lila Rollo, Pre-Social Work
Zaina Rozmus, Chemistry
Robin Ryles, Fashion and Textile Technology
Teandra Scott, Communication
Elizabeth Soika, Psychology
Shaneice Suckoo, Biology
Stacey Suriel, Undeclared
Briana Tolbert, Psychology
Meghan Tyler, Art
Alvin Uriarte, Undeclared
Avery Whitely, English
Chad Williams, Economics
Kali Wright, Business Administration
Taylor Zoldowski, Art History

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff in honor of Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, who was killed in Syria on January 16. Chief Petty Officer Kent lived in Maryland and grew up in Pine Plains, New York. Flags will be lowered from today until her interment.

"The family of New York mourns the loss of Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, a courageous sailor who was killed in Syria earlier this week," Governor Cuomo said. "Chief Petty Officer Kent stepped up to serve her country and dedicated herself to a life of service, following in the footsteps of her father, Colonel Stephen J. Smith of the State Police. We owe her our eternal gratitude for her selfless dedication and sacrifice. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones."

Governor Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to New York service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.

The Newman Center will host its third annual meat raffle on Saturday, March 9, at the Knights of Columbus, 1530 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; the first spin is at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person. Tables of 10 are available for $90. All tickets include an entry in the door prize raffle, beverages (beer and soda), and pizza. Other raffles taking place throughout the event consist of a large prize bonus raffle, a 50/50 split raffle, a lottery ticket raffle, and a basket raffle. Those attending must be at least 18 years old. Outside food is welcome, but no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.

For tickets, please call the Newman Center at 882-1080 or e-mail newmancenter@buffalostate.edu.

All proceeds benefit our services to Buffalo State students (service projects, retreats, leadership training, and ministry resources).

It’s time to check the haveibeenpwned.com website.

Sophos's Naked Security is reporting that a huge stolen data set has been discovered. This data set contains roughly 140 million e-mail addresses and 11 million passwords not previously included in the HIBP database.

Remember, go to haveibeenpwned.com, type in your Buffalo State e-mail address, and click on “pwned?” If your e-mail was used for an account site that has experienced a data breach, those sites, with explanations, will appear (scroll down). The explanation will tell you what was stolen in the breach (e.g., account number, password, employment information, address).

If you find that your e-mail address was pwned, see which accounts were affected and change your login credentials for those sites. For instance, if your credentials were stolen from LinkedIn, change your LinkedIn password. And change the password for the affected e-mail account as well.

Check all your e-mail addresses.

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Bengal Allies invite all members of the campus community to the first Bengal Ally Mixer today, February 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Fireside Lounge (third floor, just outside the Dean of Students Office). Mixers will be held every first Wednesday of the month during the semester. Join students and other faculty and staff members in a casual, friendly environment with free refreshments and excellent conversation. These mixers are an opportunity for members of the campus's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, and ally community to informally meet and strengthen our association and visibility at Buffalo State.

Can’t make this mixer? The next one will be held on March 6 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge.  

To get involved with the Bengal Allies and our full semester of programming, please attend our biweekly meetings in the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Campbell Student Union 105G. Our first three meetings of the semester are at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 4 and 18, and Monday, March 4.

Please contact us with questions or suggestions:

LGBTQ+ Resource Center: Sean P. Terry, student activities assistant for evening and weekend life

Bengal Allies: Char Vetter, associate director of the Weigel Wellness Center

Mission Statement
The Buffalo State LGBTQ+ Resource Center provides a safe, inclusive, and celebratory environment for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff. We seek to provide members of our campus community with resources that will support and affirm each individual’s process of self-discovery and identity development and facilitate connections between our campus and the Buffalo community. The LGBTQ+ Resource Center provides access to informative media, training, professional development, and advocacy.

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Bengal Allies invite all members of the campus community to the first Bengal Ally Mixer on Wednesday, February 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Fireside Lounge (third floor, just outside the Dean of Students Office). Mixers will be held every first Wednesday of the month during the semester. Join students and other faculty and staff members in a casual, friendly environment with free refreshments and excellent conversation. These mixers are an opportunity for members of the campus's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, and ally community to informally meet and strengthen our association and visibility at Buffalo State.

Can’t make this mixer? The next one will be held on March 6 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge.  

To get involved with the Bengal Allies and our full semester of programming, please attend our biweekly meetings in the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Campbell Student Union 105G. Our first three meetings of the semester are at 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 4 and 18, and Monday, March 4.

Please contact us with questions or suggestions:

LGBTQ+ Resource Center: Sean P. Terry, student activities assistant for evening and weekend life

Bengal Allies: Char Vetter, associate director of the Weigel Wellness Center

Mission Statement
The Buffalo State LGBTQ+ Resource Center provides a safe, inclusive, and celebratory environment for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff. We seek to provide members of our campus community with resources that will support and affirm each individual’s process of self-discovery and identity development and facilitate connections between our campus and the Buffalo community. The LGBTQ+ Resource Center provides access to informative media, training, professional development, and advocacy.

The Buffalo State community is saddened by the death of James J. Mooney, professor emeritus of industrial arts education, who died January 9, 2019. Dr. Mooney joined the college in 1963 and retired in 1992. He is survived by three children. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 28, in Christ the King Church, 30 Lamarck Drive, Snyder, NY 14226. More information is available online.